The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-11-10
NOBODY ASKED ME-"

~ hate coqnette! said Miss Dllly
Rockingham.
$50 do II said Alice Ames.
'.Pshaw!" said Miss Dilly.
''Dear me, Dilly-what can you pos
sibly mean?" said the city visitor.
She looked provokingly pretty as
she sat on the doorstep, throwing
breadcrumbs to flock of bright-eved
young turkeys that were on their way
to roost. Above, the dropping apple
boughs almost touched her sun-hat;
below, the daisies glimmered in the
grass like silver dots. The sun was
Just down; but there remained a yell
low glow in the sky. and the birds
chirped sleepily in the hedges, while a
swallow or two yet circled round the
caves of the barn.
Alice was very pretty-a fair-haired,
bright-complexioned girl, with large,
brown eyes, and lips reddcr than any
strawberry. And perhaps that was the
reason that she produced such an i'm
preston in the village of Milton.
which, to speak thetruth, was not
a beauty-producing neighborhood.
The girls of Milton were lank and
tall, with no particular figure, freckled
complexions. and heavy features.
They were, however, as Robert Rock
ingham observed. Irregular spiders to
work" and turned out tirst-class but
termakers, factory hands, and poultry
breeders; but as for the poetic side of
life, they knew nothing of it, and
cared less. They raised vegetables OF
all sorts in their gardens; but roses
and pinks they ignored rs simply a
waste of time. They read the weekly
paper and the Bible. and occasionally
consulted their almandes; but they
never had heard of She, aud did not
know Thackeray from Dickens. Work
was their idol--a school-treat their
ideal of gay dissipation.
Into this atmosphere of thrift Alice
Ames had come, as golden pheasant
might have made its way into a barn
yard full of respectable hens and geese.
She was a distant cousin of the Rock
inghamS, whose mother was dead, and
whose father had gone a business
trip. He had not known quite what to
do with Alice during his absence, until
he suddenly remembered his cousins
at Milton.
THAT will be nice place for the
child" he thought. 1T will be stu
pid refuge, but it will be safe one.
They'll like Alice - everyone likes
Alice"
1t was true. The pretty, dewy-
eyed girl brought her own welcome
with her wherever she went. The
Rockinghams were despairing when
they heard that she was coming-they
were delighted when she had come.
Bob, the eldest son, lost his heart to
her at once. 1t was clear case OF
love at first sight.
My son." said the rugged old moth
er, "she is not suited to place like
this"
'.But she is so lovely, mother" " said
honest Bob.
II don't think she has any idea of
being farmers wife"
my chances are as good as anyone
else's," pleaded poor Bob.
And his mother wisely said no more
upon the subject.
Alice went strawberrying with Bob;
she learned to ride horseback on old
Dobbin, after the days work was over,
with Bob for teacher. She gathered
ferns in the woods, and sketched Grad
ton Mountain from different points of
view, with Bob to carry her color
boxes and set up her umbrella. In
fact, she seemed delighted with her
country abiding-place, and Bob was
in the seventh heaven of happiness,
when, like thunderbolt out OF a clear
sky, Mr.. Manfred Harper made his ap-
pearance on the scene.
Ibid you know he was coming?'
sharply questioned Rhodilla, common
ly known as '.Dilly," the grim, eldest
daughter of the Rockinghams.
mo" Alice carelessly answered.
She was accustomed to the homage
of her admirers, and it did not at all
surprise her that Mr.. Harper should
have followed her from the City. And
it was her innocent enjoyment of Mr..
Harper's society that drew from Dilly
the sharp comment of Il hate a CO.
guette!
There was no hotel at Milton, so Mr..
Harper had to stay ut farmhouse
| where they occasionally let rooms in
the shooting and fishing seasons.
Alice went riding with him, took
| him to all the delicious, leafy glens
which Robert Rockingham had shown
her, introduced him to the best pools
of the trout stream, and, as Dilly de-
elared, '.firted" openly with him.
Il don't know what you mean" said
Alice, with provoking equanimity,
ITO treat gentleman civilly-ls that
what you call flirting, Dilly?"
Anybody would think there was
nobody in the world but him, when
you are talking with him under the
| pear-trees," said Dilly.
Zone must be polite" observed
Alice, capturing one of the speckled
turkey pnllets aud holding its downy
little-body against her peach-soft face
II don't care for him." said Dilly,
fairly driven to bay. NOR for myself
All [ say is. that you've no business tc
break Bob's heart"
But" cried Alice, with limpid
hazel eyes wide open, ''what is it te
Bob?"
Miss Dilly flounced away to bring il
| the kitchen towels, which were bleach
ing on the grass down by the brook:
'I've no patience with the girl" saie
she.
Bob, however, took things more
quietly.
LET her alone" said he; 1--WE hav'
no right to dictate to her."
But Dilly knew him too well to bt
deceived. She knew that the enven
omed arrow was ranking in his heart
On that Thursday evening, however
when Manfred Harper had come hom'
from fern-hunting with Alice. and hat
stayed to tea and spent the evening,
came on to rain, with a roll of thunde
aud occasional flashes of lightning.
Robert went ont into the kitchen
whsge Dilly was busy at work.